Golf ball and tee placement unit

Abstract

The present invention 10 discloses a golf/tee placement device having a housing 32 having a hopper 18 therein for the placement of a plurality of golf balls 14 and a canister for the placement of a plurality of tees 16 . The housing uses compressed air to move a golf ball 14 and golf tee 16 away from the device and drive the tee 16 into the ground with the golf ball 14 placed thereon. Positioned on the exterior face of the housing 32 is a control panel 26 with user selectable variables such as the depth of the golf tee and the time duration for the placement of subsequent balls and tees. The device moves a tee 16 into the extending placement arm 22 using compressed air. In conjunction with the loading of the tee 16 a single ball 14 is released into the placement arm 22 . Once positioned the placement arm 22 uses compressed air to extend it to full position whereupon a jet of compressed air drives the ball 14 and the tee 16 into the ground while opening the hinged element which retracts leaving the golf ball 14 and implanted tee 16 behind.

What is claimed to be new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.  
     
       1. An apparatus for positioning a golf ball or tee on the ground, comprising: 
       a) a housing, said housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, a front, a rear, and a pair of sides;  
       b) a hopper for containing a plurality of golf balls, said hopper disposed on said top portion of said housing;  
       c) means for a downwardly extending conduit disposed on said hopper to permit a golf ball to be delivered by gravity from said hopper to a placement unit;  
       d) means for a placement arm whereby said placement arm reciprocates to deliver a ball and/or tee for positioning on the ground;  
       e) means for a placement unit whereby a golf ball and/or tee can be positioned on the ground;  
       f) means for a tee clip disposed internal said housing whereby a tee can be delivered to said means for a placement unit;  
       g) means for a source of air pressure disposed on said housing whereby pneumatic pressure is supplied to operate the apparatus;  
       h) means for a control panel disposed on said housing whereby the apparatus is controlled; and,  
       i) means for a power source disposed on said housing whereby power is supplied to the apparatus.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for a source of air pressure comprises a main air pressure tank disposed on said housing and an arm air pressure tank disposed on a placement arm. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said means for a placement arm comprises: 
       a) an elongated placement arm wherein said placement arm reciprocates in the horizontal plane internal said housing, said arm reciprocating from said first side to said second side of said housing, said placement arm having a first and a second end;  
       b) a plurality of arm guides disposed in a spaced apart manner along said placement arm to permit the placement arm to reciprocate thereon;  
       c) a pneumatic motor attached to said placement arm to permit the placement arm to reciprocate;  
       d) a main air pressure tank for supplying air for operating said placement arm;  
       e) a pressure distribution and conduit for delivering air from said main air pressure tank to said pneumatic motor; and,  
       f) an arm stop disposed on said second end of said placement arm to stop the placement arm.  
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said means for a placement unit comprises: 
       a) a placement unit disposed on said first end of said placement arm to permit placement of a golf ball and/or tee on the ground;  
       b) a fixed guide disposed on said placement unit forming a first member of the golf ball and/or tee guide, said fixed guide having a top portion having an aperture therein;  
       c) a retractable guide disposed on said placement unit forming a second member of the golf ball and/or tee guide, said retractable guide having a top portion;  
       d) a pneumatic hinge connecting said fixed guide and said retractable guide to permit the retractable guide to be opened away from the fixed guide;  
       e) an arm air pressure tank disposed on said placement arm for providing air to said placement unit;  
       f) an air gun disposed on said top of said retractable guide to provide air pressure to position the golf ball and/or tee on the ground; and,  
       g) a conduit for connecting said air gun to said arm air pressure tank.  
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said means for a downwardly extending conduit comprises: 
       a) a conduit for delivering a golf ball by gravity from said hopper to said aperture of said fixed guide;  
       b) a load gate and a release gate disposed internal said conduit for delivering a golf ball to said aperture of said fixed guide;  
       c) at least one tension spring disposed on each of said load gate and said release gate to bias said load gate and said release gate to a normally closed position;  
       d) a pressure valve and catch disposed on each of said load gate and said release gate for biasing said load gate and said release gate to an open position when air pressure is supplied; and,  
       e) a conduit for delivering air from said air distribution to each of said pressure valves to permit operation of the pressure valve.  
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said means for a tee clip comprises: 
       a) an elongated tee housing, said tee housing having a first end and a second end said first end disposed above said fixed guide of said placement unit;  
       b) a guide track disposed internal said tee housing, said guide track running longitudinally along said tee housing to permit movement of a tee along the guide track;  
       c) a pressure spring disposed on said second end of said tee housing to bias the tees toward said first end of said tee housing;  
       d) a stop block disposed on said first end of said tee housing to stop the movement of the tees;  
       e) a tee air injection valve disposed on said first end of said tee housing to permit air pressure to force a tee downward into said fixed guide of said placement unit; and,  
       f) a conduit for delivering air from said air distributor to said tee air injection valve.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said means for a control panel comprises: 
       a) a control panel disposed on said housing;  
       b) a timer disposed on said control panel to permit the timed operation of the apparatus;  
       c) a display unit disposed on said control panel for displaying information regarding the operation of the apparatus;  
       d) an on/off switch disposed on said control panel;  
       e) a dispense ball switch disposed on said control panel to permit only a ball to be dispensed from the apparatus; and,  
       f) a dispense balutee switch disposed on said control panel to permit a ball and a tee to be dispensed from the apparatus.  
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said means for a power source comprises: 
       a) a battery; and,  
       b) a battery compartment disposed on said housing for containing said battery.  
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a handle being disposed on said top portion of said housing to permit the housing to be moved about. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , said handle further comprising a strap. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , said handle further comprising means for attaching said handle to said housing. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said means for attaching said handle to said housing comprises a strap retainer disposed on said ends of said strap and a screw for attaching said strap retainer to said housing.